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Prague Trying To Sort Out TV Politics

After a long-winded session that went into the early hours of this morning, the lower chamber of Parliament dismissed the council that oversees Czech Television and last month provoked a crisis by appointing a controversial director. Trying to eliminate the partisanship that many politicians now say characterized the governing body of the state television system, the chamber also amended a law about how the council is appointed.

The moves were not sufficient to please rebel journalists at the television station, who have occupied its newsroom since Dec. 20. They say they will continue their protest, which has been backed by some of the largest demonstrations since the fall of Communism in 1989.

On Thursday, the rebels scored a victory when the controversial director appointed on Dec. 20, Jiri Hodac, resigned, citing ill health.

The rebels opposed Mr. Hodac, a former head of the Czech language service of the BBC, because they said he had close ties to the former prime minister, Vaclav Klaus. Mr. Klaus is widely considered to want to run for president in 2002, succeeding his rival, Vaclav Havel, and Mr. Klaus's opponents contend that controlling television would aid him in that bid. Not content with Mr. Hodac's resignation, the rebels are demanding that all his appointees at the station should step down.

Under the amendment, adopted by Parliament at 3 a.m. after an 18-hour emergency session, members of the Czech Television Council will be nominated by nongovernmental organizations and appointed by Parliament. Currently, the lower house nominates and appoints the council members. Council membership will increase from 9 to 15.

The proposal still has to be approved by the Senate and by President Havel. If all goes as planned, Parliament will elect a new general director at its next session Jan. 23.

Many politicians and the rebel journalists believed the council to be at the core of the crisis. Most of its members were from either Mr. Klaus's party or the governing Social Democrats, who need Mr. Klaus's support to keep their minority government in power. The arrangement between political foes has riled many Czechs as a symbol of tainted post-Communist politics.